Desk



De. 30, 1930; M. cARRlNGToN ET AL I 1,786,823

DESK

Filed March 17,' 1927 A'TTORNEY @www Patented Een. 30, 1930 UNirso sra'res PATENT orrics MALCOLM CAR-RINGTON AND 'OHN HENRY K'LNCK, 0F PTTSBURGH, lENNSYLVAEIAQ` ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC ANDLEANUFACTURING COMPANY, CGR- PORATION F PENNSYLVANIA Appncamnieie March 17, 1927. seran No. 176,034.

Qur invention relates generally to desks, and more particularly to o'flice desks in conjunction with which modern oiiice devices be conveniently provided.

One object of the invention is to facilitate the wiring 'of desks to provide the proper conductors and connections for telephones, dictaphones and other devices requiring a supply of electrical energy 'lor their operation. f It is also an object oi the invention to provide desks having passage-ways and conduits disposed to register when the desks are assembledfin groups, thereby to provide continuousfchannels through all the desks for containing the conductors for the auxiliary equipment.

Heretofore, it has been necessary to wire desks individually, usually resulting in disigurement, by'reason oit the necessity of fastening various terminals and clips on the desk to support the wires in accessible positions.

lVhen a desk embodying our invention is employed, defects in wiring may be easily corrected, conductors may be changed quickly, and the substitution of one wired desk for another is a simple matter.

@ur improved desk comprises a desk body v. having a'channel Yor a plurality ot' channels located in its upper rear part and extending from end to end thereof and a desk top that rests on and covers the desk body and the channels therein.

For a fuller understanding oi the nature and objects of our invention, reference is to be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which;

Fig. 1 is a view, in perspective, oi a desk constructed in accordancel with one form of our invention, a part of the top or cover being broken away; y

Fig. 2 is a top plan viev.7 of the channel member with opentop shown in the upper part of the desk body of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the channel member illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cover ot the desk taken along-the line lV-IV of Fig. 1;'and

Fig. 5 is a view, in cross-section, taken along the line V-V of Fig, 2,

ln the drawingpve have illustrated a desk comprising a right pedestal 1 and a'left pedestal 2 that are connected by a bridge member 3 to provide a desk body adapted to support a removable top or cover el. A portion of the removable tope has been broken away to disclose the arrangement of the dit- ;terent members mounted in the desk body.

A channel member 6 comprising an outer channel body 7 and an inner channel body 8 nested therein 'and united thereto to form a plurality of open channels, is located in the upper rear part of the desk body. As illustra-ted the channels contain telephone wires 9 and 10 provided with a take-ori' 11 which extends through an opening inthe bottom of the desk into the knee space provided in the central part under the bridge member 3 and which leads to a telephone set 12.

The channel body 7 constituting the outer part of the channel member 6, is constructed bypressing any suitable sheet material, preferably metal, into the 'form' of a trough or channel and bythen'bending the outer longitudinal edges 13 and 11i of its side walls 15 and 16 inwardly to form a constricted opening thereto. rlhe ends of the outer channel body 7 are bent outwardly to form flanges 17, that are adapted to rest against the walls of the pedestals 1 and 2 and hold thechannel body 6 in position when it is placed in the desk body. f n

The inner channel body 8, which is adapted to be nested .in the outer .cha-miel body 7, is also formed by Vpressi-ng sheet material. into the form of a trough with it'sjouterlongitudinal edges` 18 and ldbent/ outwardly.. rlheV inner channel body 8 is then placed or nested.

in the' outer channel b odvi` in such position that its side walls'will divide the interior of' the channel body 'i' into a pluralityot channels a'nd its bentlover l'ongitudinaledges 18 and 19 will cooperate with the inturned edges 13 and 14 of the channel body 7,thereby providing vconstricted 'openings into the outer channels andV leaving the central kchannel with a 'fullmfidth opening. The inner channel body 8 may be 'fastened in the outer channel body 7 by welding or in any other well knoun manner.

The channel n'ieinber o previiled with apertures 2O in its underside near its central portion tlnfough wl ich wires or air lines may be led out into the open knee space and up over the back ot the desk to teicphones electric light iixtnres, dictz'xpnoncs; or other devices mounted upon or close to the desk. Apertures may be provided in any other portion ofthe channel member (i, it it is desired to lead out Wires at any other point.

The desk top or cover and the desk body are provided, at each corner, with co-operating clips 21 and screws 22 by means oit which the top et may be rigidly fastened to the body. It' it is desired to inspect the contents o'l the channels or conduits formed by the channel bodies 7 and S or place nenv Wires therein, the desk top 4 may be readily removed by taking out the screws The edges 2;) ot the desk top are turned downwardly and inwardly to give a neatcr appearance to the desk and to conceal the open ends of the channel member 6 Afrom the usual line of vision oit the occupants ot the room in which the desk may be located.

In Wiring our improved desk, the Wires may be threaded through thecl'iannels or conduits in the channel member 6 and connected to telephones, dictaphones or other instruments associated with the desk Without removingr the desk top, but it may sometimes be more convenient to remove the desk top, lay the Wires in the channels and then replace the top.

Vhile the desk illustrated in the drawing is shown as having telephone Wires located in its channels or conduits. Wires for dictaphones, electric lightingy fixtures, or for any other purpose may be inserted therein, or some or all of the channels may be used as runways for air pipes tor air 1crushes and the like.

lt will also be, understood that a desk constructed in accordance with our invention may be provided with a larger conduit or channel member Ytor other purposes, such ttor instance, enclosingr and supporting a traveling belt conveyor,y or a` cable having' individual carriers, for facilitating` the hand line*r of papers or small packages.

Many modifications and changes may be made in the desk and channel member illustratd .as embodying our invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and all such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Te claim as our invention:

l. A desk comprisingl a body portion and an open-end conduit located therein and eX- tending from one end to the other end thercoi.

Q. A desk comprising a body portion and a conduit located therein and extending from one end to the other end thereof, said conduit being provided With an outlet for leading-out conductors. Y

S. A desk comprising a body portion and a conduit located therein and extending from one end to the other end thereof, said conduit being provided with an outlet near its central portion 'for leadingsout conductors.

4. A desk for oHice use con'iprisinpr a bodyY portion, a removable top portion mounted on the body portion, and a conduit for auxiliary apparatus in the body portion, said conduit being;r normally concealed by the top portion and freely accessible when the top portion is removed.

A desk for oiiice use comprising' a bod y portion, a channel member tor receiving' auxiliary apparatus in the body portion and a. top portion disposed to cover the body porH tion and the channel member therein, said channel member comprising' a channel shaped conduit open at its ends and provided with apertures in its bottom portion.

6. In a desk for otiice use, the con'ibination with a pair ot' spaced pedestal members, a connecting bridge member to constitute a desk body having the usual knee space and a removable top portion; ot a channel member tor receiving;l auxiliary apparatus disposed in the upper rear portion of the desk body, said channel member havingr openings at either end ot' the desk and an openingr coinmunicating with the knee space and being freely accessible by removingl the top portion.

In testimony whereof. we have hereunto subscribedy our names this 10th day ot March,

MALCOLM CARRINGTON. JOHN HENRY KLNCK.

IZU 

